August 29, 2005

• You all may remember that I visited Xavier Park in last June.  We were short for time and I failed to notice that there was a Xavier Cathedral right across the street!  I had a free day while other family members took care of business, so I was able to return to this spot for another more leisurely visit.

  

  This building is about five years old, and a parishioner informed me that it is supposedly built in the shape of a ship like the one on which Francis Xavier sailed.  I am glad that she told me because I would not have noticed otherwise.  The former building was replaced because it had been damaged by termites.  I looked around on the Internet for a photo of the old building, but was unable to come up with anything.  It might be interesting to Photoshop all of the wires out of this picture someday.

  

  These doors lead inside to the sanctuary.

  

  I was alone in the sanctuary, but still did not want to risk trouble with a flash.  The building is very simple inside.  The windows are done in red and blue, red representing the blood of the saints and Xavier's ardor for the faith and blue representing prayer, purity and the waves upon which Xavier sailed.

  

  Here is a wider shot of the sanctuary taken from my seat in the back.  It was nice to sit and pray here.

  

  I suppose that this fixture has something to do with communion, but not being Catholic I am only guessing.  Aunt Mike or Aunt Marie, can you help me out here?  Mrs. Compukermann has just informed me that it might be a baptismal font.  The Cathedral's Internet website says that there is a piece of Xavier's arm enshrined as a relic somewhere in the building, but I did not see that.

  

  This is a Swedish pipe organ located in a balcony at the back of the church.  It would have been nice to have heard it. 

  • 20:51
  • 1 Comment